Grassroots Democracy – Part 1 Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover the key vocabulary and concepts of governance, the branches and levels of government in India, and the various forms of democracy discussed in Chapter 10.

Governance

The process of taking decisions, organising the society’s life with different sets of rules, and ensuring that they are followed.

Government

The group of individuals or the system that makes the rules and ensures that they are followed.

Laws

Important rules set for society that are not fixed once and for all but can be discussed or changed by citizens.

Cybercrime

Criminal activities where individuals find digital ways of stealing money without leaving their desks.

Legislature

The organ of government that makes new laws, or updates and removes existing ones, through an assembly of representatives.

Executive

The organ of government that implements (executes) the laws, including the head of state, ministers, and law enforcement agencies.

Judiciary

The system of courts that decides if a law was broken, determines punishment, and examines if executive decisions or laws are fair.

Separation of Powers

A system where the three organs of government (judiciary, legislature, and executive) are kept separate to provide checks and balances.

Checks and Balances

A mechanism where each organ of government can check what the others are doing to restore balance if one organ acts beyond its role.

Central or Union Government

The level of government in India that functions at the national level.

State Government

The level of government in India that functions at the state or regional level.

Local Government

The level of government in India that functions at the town or village level.

Satyameva Jayate

The motto of the Government of India, which translates to "Truth alone triumphs".

Yato Dharmastato Jayah

The motto of the Supreme Court, which translates to "Where there is dharma, there is victory".

Nominal Head

A leader, such as the President of India or a State Governor, who holds power in name only and does not normally interfere in government affairs.

House

An assembly where laws are discussed or passed, such as the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.

Vidhan Sabha

The state-level assembly where laws are formulated in most Indian States.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

A renowned scientist known as the "Missile Man of India" who served as the $11^{th}$ President of India from $2002$ to $2007$.

Democracy

A word derived from the Greek words dēmos (people) and kratos (rule), literally meaning the "rule of the people".

Representative Democracy

A system where people vote for representatives, such as MPs or MLAs, to discuss laws and solutions in assemblies on their behalf.

MLAs

Members of Legislative Assembly, who are elected representatives at the State level in India.

MPs

Members of Parliament, who are elected representatives at the national level in India.

Voting

The process of making a decision where an option is finalized based on which one gets a larger number of hands or votes.

Direct Democracy

A form of democracy where every individual's opinion is taken directly to finalize a decision, rather than through representatives.

Grassroots Democracy

A system that enables and encourages the participation of ordinary citizens in decisions that affect them.